Ispahani T20 Series
Bangladesh VS Afghanistan
1st T20I played at SBNCS , Dhaka on 3 March 2022
Bangladesh 155/8 (Liton K Das 60, Afif Hossain 25, Munim Shahriar 17, Farid Haq Farooqi 2/27, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/31 ) beat
Afghanistan 94 All Out in 17.4 Overs (Nazibullah Zadran 27, Azmatullah Omarzai 20, Mohammad Nabi 16, Nasum Ahmed 4/10, Shoriful Islam 3/29, Shakib Al Hasan 2/18 )
by 61 runs
Player of The Match: Nasum Ahmed.
Proving all prediction mockery tweeting tigers avalanched Afghans in a completely one sided traffic at tigers impregnable forte Shere Bangladesh National Stadium Meerpur yesterday. Bangladesh won by impressive 61 runs.
Afghanistan is not only higher in ICC T20 ranking but also possess some of the most sought after T20 specialists across different franchise . Bangladesh is on the other hand a team in transition. Some of the top players are on the wane. Talented youngsters have just started blooming. The wicket at SBNCS had no demon though had reasonable pace and bounce .It also gripped a bit as match wearied on . Liton K Das (60) dominated Bangladesh batting while Nasum Ahmed (4/10) strangled Afghans in their chase. The dominance of team tigers was absolute . Almost the same team which bowled and fielded so poorly only a couple of days back at ZACS in the last ODI looked a completely different side. It looked much more purposefull and lively. If they can hold their own getting up to a white wash of the 2 matches series is not beyond their reach. Hope team management could identify some chink in the arm and would iron those out on time.
Bangladesh plans got rubbed a bit from dependable middle order war veteran Mushfiqur Rahman getting unfit. Other than that the playing XI was predictable with rock and roll opener Munim Shahriar making a debut. Selectors persisted with Mohammad Naim. But it proved futile . Taskin was also given rest. Anyway win was the ultimate objective that was so clinically achieved.
Mahmudullah had no hesitation to bat after winning toss. On a bouncy and pacey wicket new Afghan south paw pacer impressive Farooqi continued his good work. Naim wasted another precious opportunity. He fell to Farooqi being trapped infront. Rookie Munim played some delightful strokes before getting bamboozled to Rashid Trade mark goggle . Things looked a little grey for tigers when Shakib also fell playing an ordinary stroke. While all these were happening Liton looked like a person from other planet. His sweet timing and graceful strokes were traet to the eyes. Captain Mahmudullah failed to live up to his pre match confident statement. Bangladesh was 4/80 in 10.5 overs. Then came a 46 runs 5th wicket useful partnership between Liton and Afif before Liton gifted his wicket to Farooqi playing an ordinary stroke. But before that carrying his team on his shoulders he presented yet another impressive innings of 60 studded with 6 fours and 2 sixes. The only other innings of note came from Afif (25) . Two batsmen ran themselves out as Bangladesh finished at 155/8 in allotted overs. Of the Afghans rookie Farooqi (2/27) and debutant Omarzai ( 2/31) were impressive. But the world class spin trio Rashid , Nabi and Mujeeb bowling 9 overs among them managed only 1 wicket giving away 61 runs.
Based on recent records 155 was a good enough score to defend. SBNCS wicket gets slower and lower as match gets longer. The now growing golden arm Nasum Ahmed again tormented the top order of an international team with tight penetrative deceiving spin completely destabilized Afghanistan batting. Within the wink of an eye Afghans got reduced to 3/8 and 4/20 with Nasum grabbing all four. Riad could press on provided he brought his other tramp card wily Shakib at the attack . But for strategic reasons he was held back. Nazibullah Zadaran and Mohammad Nabi ventured a mini recovery mission adding 37 in 5th wicket partnership. Shakib removed both before they could create much headache. Young Shoriful mopped up the late middle order and the tail. Other tormentor Mustafiz was not required to complete his quota as Afghans succumbed to 94 all out conceding a 61 run huge defeat.
It was a great win against a strong side .Bangladesh bowled and fielded exceptionally well. But apart from Liton, Afif and Munim batting was awful. Hope team management specially batting coach Mr Siddons took due note of it. Good to see new generation emerging .
BDST: 1149 HRS, MAR 04, 2022
